Process of and means for treating hair



July 2s, '1936. l, qH, WILSEY 2,04g,035

PROCESS OF AND MEANS FOR TREATING HAIR Filed Jan. 9, 1933 Patented July 28, 1936 2,049,035 raooEss 0F AND MEANS Foa TREATING nant Irven H. Wilsey, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, of one-half to Safe-Wave Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 9, 1933, Serial No. 650,812

Claims.

The invention relates generally to a process of and means for treating hair and more particularly to a process and means which is especially adapted for use in connection with beautifying treatments, such, for example, as the so-called permanent waving process.

Processes of this character, and in particular permanent Waving processes, depend largely for their effectiveness 0n the action upon the hair of a solution which is applied to the hair and heated. Extreme care must be exercised in performing the operation since the action on the hair is more eective and rapid at high temperatures, yet the temperature must be accurately held at or near a maximum limit to prevent burning of the hair. Too frequently, and in spite of the utmost caution, the hair undergoing treatment will either be burned or will be seriously damaged by the high temperatures employed. Should the treatment be made under temperatures which ar'e too low, the treatment will not only require a much longer time to perform, but may produce only partial and unsatisfactory results. Moreover, unless a high degree .of skill and great care are exercised the scalp ofr the person Whose hair is being treated may be burned or otherwise injured by contact with the adjacent heated parts of the treating devices or by heated treating medium passing from the devices.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a novel process of treating hair Whereby a thorough and complete treatment may be accomplished in less time than is usually required and at lower temperatures than have heretofore been deemed necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel process embodying a treatment of hair under a sub-atmospheric pressure.

A further object resides in the provision o an improved device for use in the treatment of hair which embodies a combination of parts by which hair may be treated under a reduced pressure.

Another object of the invention stated more specifically is to provide a new and improved process for treating hair wherein the hair is confined' in a treating chamber or compartment and. therein subjected to the action of a treating medium and heat While in a sub-atmospheric pressure, the diminished pressure being controlled in any suitable manner, as by a restricted opening of the chamber to atmosphere.

Another object is to provide a novel process 55' and improved means for carrying out the process embodying highly important safety features wherein a cooling, protecting flow of air is produced along and away from the scalp and into the hair treating chamber.

Another object is to provide in an apparatus of this nature a simple and novel means by which the operator may quickly and easily place the apparatus in operative condition.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus used in practicing the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view partially in section showing parts of the apparatus in greater detail.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the treating casing.

While the invention is susceptible ofA various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail they preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specic form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the ap pended claims.

In its broadest aspect, this process consists in the treatment of hair under a sub-atmospheric pressure.

One preferred form of apparatus for performing the process according to the invention is illustrated as comprising a closed vacuum chamber or compartment l0 which is connected through a conduit il with a suitable suction pump l2 or the like. The chamber preferably embodies an adjustable pressure control valve I3 and a pressure indicator l sa, both being of conventional form. Mounted on the chamber lll is a plurality of connecter sections lli for receiving complementary sections l5 which are carried at one end of suitable and flexible Vacuum conduits I6 of indeterminate lengths. The-other end of each conduit ll is connected with a casing I1 within which the hair is treated.

The heat which is applied to the hair in treatment thereof is usually electrically produced and in this instance current is drawn from a suitable source throughleads i8, lwhich extend to contacts 2U in the several connecter sections U3. The complementary sections l5 have contact points 2l cooperating with contacts 2D, and leads 22rfrom said? points extend to a resistance Winding 23 of a Well-known type. The electrical circuit preferably includes a suitable current measuring device 24, such as an ammeter or voltmeter, a rheostat 25 for controlling the heat output of resistance 23, and an automatic time switch 26.

The hair treating casings Il are similar and in this embodiment each comprises a substantially cylindrical body and an axially extending heating core 21 in which the resistance 23 is located. Preferably these parts are permanently assembled and for this purpose one end of the core, which is hollow and closed at one end, is mounted in and opens through an end plate 28 formed integrally with or litted snugly' within one end of the body. The end of the conduit I6 passes through a suitable aperture in the plate 28 to communicate with the interior of the casing body. Leads 22 being connected with the resistance 23 and said resistance being properly disposed in the core, the outer end of the body beyond the plate 28 and the core are lled with an insulating material 29 such as a suitable phenol condensation product. Thus, this end of the casing is tightly sealed and the parts are rmly held in position. If desired, Va protecting cap 3i! of rubber or the like may cover the end of the casing.

A hollow winding rod 3l of customary structure fashioned to t over the core is adapted to have a strand of hair 32 wound tightly thereon in the usual manner. The open end of the casing body carries a detachable closure which, in this instance, comprises an inner disk 33 (Fig. 2) Vreceivable within the end of the body, an outer disk 34 (Figs. 2 and 3) of slightly larger diameter to abut the end of the body, and such means as pin and slot connections 35 (Fig. 3) for securing the disks together for relative rotational movement. Internally the end of the body has a thin bead arranged to coact with a complementary formation of the periphery of disk 33 whereby the double disk assembly may be detachably secured to the casing body.

Slots 3S in the disks, having marginal protection 37 thereon such as lining members of rubber, permit the strand of hair to pass into the interior of the casing. Rotation of the outer disk 34 will bind the strand of hair firmly against withdrawal from the disks or casing.

It is preferred to utilize only a single flexible element for establishing the electrical and vacuum` connections to the casing and to provide means by which such connections may be conveniently established and disconnected at will. Thus, each pair of leads 22 are combined in any acceptable manner with a vacuum conduit I6 to form a unitary flexible element 35. The complementary connecter sections I5 each comprise a closed case 3S Within which the end of the element 38 terminates. The contact points 2l are rigidly mounted on the case to extend therefrom and leads 22 are electrically connected therewith. The vacuum conduit I6 communicates with a rigidtube 4I) which projects from the case preferably on the axis thereof and paralleling the contact points 2|. The outer or free end of the tube is longitudinally notched or recessed, as at 4 I Each connecter section I4 has the pair of contacts 20 inset therein for engagement with the points 3|. A central bore 42, fashioned to receive the end of tube 40, extends through the section I4 intocommunication with the interior of the vacuum chamber I9. Internally the bore 42 is enlarged to form a valve seat 43 against which a ball valve 44, or the like, is normally urged, as by a spring 45, with ample force to resist opening under the pressure differential existing between the interior of chamber Il) and atmosphere. The relationship of parts is such that when the tube 4G is inserted in bore 42. the notched end of the tube engages and moves the valve 44 from its seat thereby establishing communication between the interior of chamber Il) and conduit I5 through then'otches 4I in tube 4i). Hence, the single operation of joining the connecter sections I4, I5 establishes operative communication of both the electrical and vacuum systems with the treating casings Il. As many connecter sections I4 are provided on the chamber as may be deemed necessary.

In operation, the hair having been wound upon the winding rod, the rod mounted o-n the core, the end of the casing body closed by the disk assembly', and the connecter sections joined, the electric circuit is established and the pump I2 placed in operation. The hair, of course, has been previously prepared fory treatment with any of the usual Vand commercially well-known formulae or ingredients. As the hair is heated, the various ingredients react therewith but, since the reaction occurs at less than normal atmospheric pressure, volatilization and penetration thereof appear to take place more rapidly than under normal pressure conditions. Moreover, the heat requirement is lower.

- There will be some induction or leakage of air into the casings Il through the disk slots 36 but compensation for such indrawn air may be made by proper adjustment of the pressure control' valve I3. Such leakage is advantageous in that the inducted air serves as a cooling medium for the casing Walls and for. the hairsince it is f drawn into the casing about and partly through the hair. The flow of air from outside the charnber through the aperture through which the air passes will moreover serve to cool the scalp as well as the casing nearest the scalp. Possible injury due to burning by the casing is therefore definitely avoided. Furthermore, the draft of air flowing from the scalp carries away the vapors of the chemical ingredients up through the heating chamber and thus they are prevented from condensing and running back onto the scalp of the person being treated. In some instances, it may be desirable to increase the volume of indrawn air and the casing may be vented for this purpose as by properly dimensioning the slots 36. Or, if the casing is to be vented through the side, a casing encircling sleeve 4B may be rotatably mounted on the open endvof the casing for controlling the effective size of an air vent formed by one or more apertures 4l in the sleeve and casing Wall.

I claim as my invention:

l. The processof treating hair which consists in subjecting hair to the action of a treating 4. Ihe process of treating hair which consistsAv in applying heat and a treating medium to hair in a treating chamber and maintaining the chamber during at least a part of such application under a sub-atmospheric pressure to lower the heat requirement for volatilizing said medium and to hasten the action of said medium on the hair.

5. The process of treating hair which consists in applying heat and a treating medium to hair in a treating cham er, maintaining the chamber during at least apart of such application under a pressure less than that of atmosphere, and controlling the pressure reduction.

6. The process of treating hair which consists in applying heat and a treating medium to hair in a treating chamber, maintaining the chamber during at least a part of such application under a sub-atmospheric pressure, and controlling the pressure reduction by opening the chamber to atmosphere whereby the indrawn air serves as a cooling agent.

7 Hair treating apparatus comprising the combination of a casing deiining a hair treating compartment, a heating element in said casing for subjecting hair to be treated to heat, and pressure reducing means connected with said casing.

8. Hair treating apparatus comprising the combination of a casing forming hair treating compartment, means within said casing for subjecting hair disposed therein to the step or steps of a hair-treating process, and means for lowering the pressure in said casing below atmospheric pressure, said casing having restricted communication with atmosphere for induction of a small quantity of air, said casing having a vent to atmosphere through which air is drawn into the casing when the pressure is reduced therein.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a closed chamber under reduced pressure, a treating casing, a conduit for establishing communication between said chamber and casing, a heating unit in said casing, a circuit for energizing said unit, and separable connecter sections having complementary conduit and circuit completing elements therein and forming a single means for operatively connecting the parts.

10. Apparatus of the character described cornprising, in combination, a closed chamber under reduced pressure, a treating casing, a heating unit in said casing, a flexible element connected with said casing and having therein a vacuum conduit communicating with the interior of said casing and current leads connected with said heating unit, an energizing circuit for said heating unit, a connecter section having circuit contacts therein and a passageway communicating with said chamber, a valve normally urged to close said passageway, and a complementary connecter section on said flexible element having contacts connected with said leads and engageable with said rst mentioned contacts and a tubular member connected with said vacuum conduit and fashioned to unseat said valve upon assembly of said connecter sections.

11. Apparatus of the characer described comprising, in combination, a closed chamber under reduced pressure, a treating casing, a exible element connected with said casing and having therein a vacuum conduit communicating with the interior of said casing, a connecter section having therein a passageway communicating with said chamber, a valve normally urged to close said passageway, and a complementary connecter section on said flexible element having a tubular -,member connected with said vacuum conduit and fashioned to unseat said valve upon assembly of said connecter sections.

12. The process of treating hair in a chamber which consists in subjecting hair to heat while maintaining a diminished pressure in said chamber to produce a flow of air along the hair adjacent to the scalp.

13. The process of treating hair which consists in applying heat and a treating medium to hair in a treating chamber and maintaining the chamber under a reduced pres/sure to cause a cooling ilow of air into the chamber along that portion of the hair which is outside of the chamber.

14. The process of treating hair which comprises the steps of applying heat to hair in a treating chamber into which most of a strand of hair has been placed, and causing a cooling flow of air along the scalp and into the chamber through the wall of the chamber adjacent to the head.

l5. The process of treating hair which includes the step of causing a now of air into the hair treating chamber through the wall of the chamber nearest the scap.

16. The process of treating hair which includes the step of creating a cooling flow of air between the treating device and the subjects head by causing the air to ow into the treating device.

17. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a treating instrument in which a strand of hair is disposed for treatment, means for heating the strand during treatement,

and means for causing air to flow into said instrument and along the scalp of the person being treated.

18. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a treating instrument in which a strand of hair is disposed for treatment, means for heating the strand during treatment, and means for causing air to flow into said instrument along that portion of the hair which passes through a wall and into the instrument.

19. The process of treating hair in which a treating medium is used under the influence of heat, which medium during treatment may have an injurious elect on the scalp if the heated medium or its vaporsI contact the scalp, 'which comprises the steps of subjecting said hair to heat after the chemical has been applied, and maintaining a flow of air away from the scalp to prevent a low of the medium or vapors thereof toward the scalp.

20. The protective step, in a method of treating hair by heating means applied to a strand of hair close to the scalp, which comprises drawing a protecting and cooling flow of air along the subjects scalp from all directions inwardly toward the strand of hair between the scalp and the next adjacent portion of the treating means, and thence to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure.

IRVEN H. WILSEY.

CERTIFICATE CE CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,049,035. l July 28, 1956.

IRVEN H. WILSEY.

It is hereby Certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line '73, for the numeral "3l" read 2l; page 5, first Column, lines 56, 57 and. 58, Claim 8, strike out the comma and Words said casing having a vent to atmosphere through which air is drawn into the casing when the pressure is reduced therein; and insert the same after "casing" and before the period in line 27, claim 7; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

